Jackson Free Press logo

This story originally appeared in the Jackson Free Press. It was added to the Mississippi Free Press website in 2025.
Note that any opinions expressed in legacy Jackson Free Press stories do not reflect a position of the Mississippi Free Press or necessarily of its staff and board members.

We are deeply saddened by the loss of a blues music legend, Jessie Mae Hemphill, who passed away Saturday, July 22 around 7pm. Her music was an inspiration to music players and lovers around the world and will live on in the hearts of those who knew her and her art.

There will be a viewing and services this weekend, July 29th and 30th in Senatobia MS.

Viewing and Reflections 5-8pm Sat. July 29

Felix Cauthen Funeral Home
13653 Hwy 4 West
Senatobia MS 38668
662-562-4773

Service for Jessie Mae at 2pm Sun. July 30

Church of Christ
401. West Gilmore St.
Senatobia, MS 38668

There is a real need to raise money to pay for the expense of the funeral, burial, and tombstone.
If you can make a contribution, please contact The JMH Foundation | Post Office Box 12 | Como, Mississippi 38619 USA, Phone: 901-272-0049| Fax: 504-899-8205

www.jmhemphill.org

Here is the bank info to send your kind contributions if you can, to
help Jessie Mae’s funeral expenses. Also, the funeral is open to the
public.

Checks/Money orders to be made out to:

“Jessie Mae Hemphill Memorial Fund”

also include as a memo on the check:

“In care of Richard Johnston”

Bank name and address:

Community Bank
475 E. Commerce Street
Hernando, MS 38632

Bank phone #: 662.429.8484

Account representative: Leca (lisa) Dew. She is a fan of JMH!

Mississippi native Donna Ladd and partner Todd Stauffer founded the Jackson Free Press in 2002 in the capital city. The heavily awarded local newspaper did many investigations heralded across the state and nation and served as a paper of record due to its diversity, inclusion, in-depth reporting and deep connection to readers and dedication to narrative change in and about Mississippi. In 2022, the nonprofit Mississippi Free Press, founded by Ladd and JFP Associate Publisher Kimberly Griffin in 2020, purchased the journalism assets and archives of the Jackson Free Press. A Google grant through AAN Publishers enabled Newspack's integration of the JFP archives into the Mississippi Free Press website to become part of a more searchable archive of recent Mississippi history and essential journalism.